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Wednesday, July 23, 2025

Letter to the Editor: Please vote 'yes' on schools

To the Editor:
 
I am 8 years old and I attend school at Highland Terrace Elementary. I am about to start 2nd grade.
 
You should vote “yes” on the upcoming election in support of Shoreline schools and I’ll tell you why.  
 
When I was in kindergarten I began learning how to read and now that I’ve completed 1st grade I can read pretty well. I can also write and even though it’s not my favorite, I’ve learned math too. I am so grateful for Ms. Simmons and Ms. Liz (Chighizola). They were amazing teachers and I’ve learned so much because of them.  
 
I want the future kindergarteners and 1st graders to learn just how I did. If this (supplemental) levy doesn’t pass, we put these kids at risk since teaching jobs will get cut.  
 
I also want to share with you that our school library has tons of books – all of which I love reading. It is one of my favorite places. And our librarian, Ms. Burke, is pretty killer too!  
 
Another amazing thing about my school is our gym. Mr. Davies is our gym teacher and the games we usually play are really, really fun. Mr. Davies is one of my favorite teachers.
 
Our principal is Ms. Drew. She is very nice and encouraging. Ms. Drew is very involved in school stuff and knows all of the students. My mom and dad think that Ms. Drew is a super great leader and sets a pretty good example. We’re lucky to have her.  
 
If you don’t vote “yes” on the school levy, we are at risk of losing special programs and the teachers and school staff I love so much.  

So I ask you, please vote “yes” when you get your ballot. This won’t just save Highland Terrace - it will save all of Shoreline public schools! I, along with fellow Shoreline and Lake Forest Park kids, would be so grateful because learning is very fun!  
 
Stella Romischer
Shoreline
 

13 comments:

  1. Someone should tell Stella how Washington already has the highest average teacher pay of any state in the nation. That's #1 of 50 states plus DC in grades K-5, #1 of 51 in grades 6-8, #1 of 51 in grades 9-12. Then someone should introduce her to the concept of budgeting, and how when finances are tight, hard choices have to be made.

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  2. Apparently little Stella's parents have good grammar.

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  3. Vote for this Orca!

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  4. We will vote yes, Stella!

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  5. Well done Stella, you are a credit to your school and your family!

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  6. i just did a quick Google search for states with the highest teacher salaries and I got New York, California, Maryland, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Washington wasn't mentioned. What really matters is the local cost of living. All WA teachers are on the same salary schedule but that money goes much farther east of the mountains than it does in Puget Sound.

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  7. A Google search mines old data from before the McCleary decision and the state's massive infusion of cash into public schools. 2024 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Washington in the clear lead at all grades in elementary and secondary education. Here's a link to the source: https://usafacts.org/answers/how-much-do-teachers-get-paid-in-the-us/country/united-states/

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  8. Glad we have highly paid teachers. Hope that trend continues. Let’s attract and retain teaching talent.

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  9. We are so proud of you Stella. We need more journalist like you.

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  10. No thanks. Still a no.

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  11. For a better world, we need more children like her!

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  12. The state is now getting the federal money so you can call off the levy.

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